First Punic War

The First Punic War started in 264 BCE. It lasted for 23 years, ending in 241 BCE.

Rome and Carthage, and all of their friends, went to war with each other. Rome tried to win the war early by attacking the city of Carthage, but they were beaten. Then they fought over Sicily, a big island between the two countries with lots of grain. Rome eventually won control of Sicily.

Rome then had a second attack on the city of Carthage, and this time they had a good general, Scipio, who won the battles. He did so well, he got a new name added to his old, so he became Scipio Africanus.